The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-02
TooMBs AS A FUGITIVE.
Months of Wandering in Disguise to Avoid
Caprure-FinaI Flight and Trip to Cuba.

TOOMBS AS A FUGITIVE.
| Months of Wandering Disguise to Avoid
Capuure-Final Flight and Trip to Cuba.
Atlanta Letter in New York sun.
Capt Chas. E. Irwin, who guided Robert
| Toombs out of the country in 1860, when the
! federals in pursuit of him, now tells for
| the first time the inside story of their wander
| ings. When Toonbs escaped out of the back
| door OF his house a squad of federal soldiers
at the front door. He was Joined by
| Captain Irwin, who from that time until six
! months later, when Toombs sailed from New
| Orleans to Cuba, acted his go between with
| the outside world Toom bs made first for the
home of Mr.. Lesueur. on Harris island, Sc
| cuded spot in the Savannah river. Lesueur
met Toombs cordially, saying:
Yes, we have always differed in politics. but
am your friend now to the extent of my abl-
| ity."
After Toombs had remained on Harris island
| ten days. AsbuIv Tate informed him that ne
| gro bad told the Yankees that President Davis
was hiding there. He left the place immed iatelv
and the next day squad OF federals arrived.
Although Davis was captured May 10. 1t was not
known for some time afterward in places not ac-
cessible by telegraph.
Toombs and irwin left Harris island for Fiber
ton. stopping at Mai Luther Martins, near the
town. The General travelling incognito.
having a common checkssut, sacksc and
slouch hat. Never from the time they left
Wilkes county. until they took the train at
Evergreen, Ala. six months afterward, did they
stop at a house where Toom bs did not know the
people, though the people did not recognize him.
General Toombs would often tell his host md
hostess more about their ancestors and relatives
than they knew themselves. General Toombs
and Maj. Luther Martin had been warm friends,
and Martin treated him like brother and Ike pit
him at his house as long as he would stay. Mar
tin had been paroled at the surrender, and gave
Toombs his parole, and from that time on
Toomb s went by the name of Major Martin.
Everybody in Ebert county knew General
Toombs. and he travelled altogether at night,
staying at some friends house during the day,
or perhaps several days.
They stayed awhile at Colonel divers, and on
leaving night about dark negro went out
and opened the gate for them. As they passed
through the negro said:
Good bye. Massa Robert"
Toombs appeared not notice him, but he
said TO Irwin:
What must do if can't disguise myself"
Irwin went back and talked to the negro, and
if lie ever told it no trouble came of it. Toombs
wore green goggles. which attracted so much at
tentiou that Irwin induced MIN to throw them
away.
From that place Toombs went up to Tallalu-
lab, where he engaged month in the chase.
The first effort escape was through Savannah,
but Irwin. reaching that city to prepare The
way arrested and the scheme had to De
abandoned. A second attempt to reach the
coast was equally unsuccessful. They reached
the house of Mr.. Jos. Dee, in Wilkinson county.
Mr.. Dee told them he was right in Shermans
track and had very little left, but what he had
they were welcome to. They went in and took
supper, but did not make themselves known
though General Toombs knew his host That
night, after all had retired, Mrs Dee went to her
brother and said:
Joe Dee, you fooll That man is Gen.
Toombs."
Toombsboro seventeen years before, and had
not seen him since Very early next morning
Mr.. Dee went into Gen. Toombs's room and re-
lated what his wife had said and he was over
ioyed to know he had the great Georgian in his
house. negro man on the place also recog-
nized Toombs, he having heard him make the
speech at Toom bs bofo.
On October the two men left Remberts for
New Orleans. going to the Ocmuleee river over
nearly the same route thew had travelled twice
before By appointment Toombs met number
of friends at spring near Sparta and took dim
ner with them. Here the fugitive was lordly
Robert Toombs more. Col Richard NJ.
Johnson, Col. Edge Bird and Mr.. w. w. Simp
son were among the gentlemen present. They
made from twenty TO thirty miles day and got
along without any trouble They crossed the
Ocmulgee river into Houston county. and
stopped at Mr.. Browns. a very elegant gentle
man. Toombs got Brown to look for ambu
lance for MIN to travel in, as he wanted to change
from the saddle. While Brown away
younger brother came in and recognized Irwin.
He said he was in Washington the day Irwin left
with Toombs's horse, and with the General sit
ting right there young Brown said:
by the way, what ever became of himW
Irwin said he had gone to Cuba time
ago.
The ambulance could not be secured. They
went on then to Evergreen, Ala, and took the
train for Mobile
At Tensas station they took steamer -and
went into Mobile by water. On the steamer
were a great many Yankee soldiers. Mr.. Irwin
says this is only time he General
Toombs excited. He knew there. was no es-
Gaping from the boat. They went TO the Battle
House and registered as Mai. Luther Martin and
Chas. Edgar. of North Carolina. loom bs avoid
ed the cining-room, and had his breakfast sent
to his room. The next morning after breakfast
Mr.. Irwin hunted Miss Augusta Evans, the
authoress and informed her that General
Toombs in the city She urged that
he to her fathers and make his
house his home He went and remained there
several days. Soon after he arrived Gen. Joe
Wheeler called on Miss Evans and told her he
was almost certain he had seen General Toombs
on the train the day before. but Miss Evans
never apprised him of the fact that Toombs was
Wheeler the train. General Toombs
manned week at Mr. Evans's, and Mr.. Irwin
went over to New Orleans to confer with General
Beaureguard and Col Marshall j. Smith.
passport to Cuba was obtained from the Spanish
Consul, and Irwin returned Mobile. Both
men then went to New Orleans by steamer.
They thought detective was aboard. and Irwin
about to push him into the water when
Duffie county, Georgia. Toombs and Irwin spent
several days at Col. Marshall J. Smiths home in
New Orleans, waiting for the steamer to sail.
While there man inquired about Toombs and
several Washington fGa- men whom he knew,
right in the presence of the General.
On Nov. 4. 1865, Robert Toombs babe farewell
to his native shore. 1t was a rainy day, and he
was taken to the steamer In close Carriage
Irwin had a new suit OF clothes in his state-room,
and he went in and cast off his old checked suit
Up to this time he had been very discreet, and
after the General had donned his good clothes
he walked the deck like the man he was. With
all of Twins remomstrance he could not keep
him from exposing himself. But fortune
always favored him. aud he was not detected.
Irwin bade him farewell. and saw the vessel
steam down the river en- route to Cuba Mrs.
Toombs joined her husband in Havana and
they sailed from there to Europe